Pentagon Won't Comment on Reports of Iraq Sniper Baiting Program

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http://www.voanews.com/english/2007-09-25-voa74.cfm

By Meredith Buel
Washington
25 September 2007

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The Pentagon is refusing to comment directly on news reports in the United States about a classified program encouraging some military snipers in Iraq to use fake weapons and bomb-making materials as bait, and then killing anyone who picks up the items. VOA correspondent Meredith Buel has details from Washington.

News reports on the classified sniper program are based on information described in documents related to recently filed murder charges against three members of a U.S. Army sniper team.

Each soldier is accused of killing an Iraqi in separate shootings and then planting incriminating evidence, such as wire for making bombs, on the bodies of the victims.

Lawyers for the soldiers say the killings were legal and authorized by their superiors.